The University of Maryland has named James E. Smith as the new Maryland athletic director, the university announced Thursday.
Smith has served as the Atlanta Braves’ senior vice president of business strategy for the past five years.
“It is a great honor to be chosen to lead the athletics department at the University of Maryland and to guide UMD’s storied programs into the next era,” Smith said in a news release announcing the hire. “I am highly motivated to build upon excellence and lead Maryland forward in a dynamic and pivotal time for intercollegiate athletics, with a sharp focus on student-athlete health, well-being and academic success.”
Smith is set to start on July 15, according to the university release. His hiring ends a nearly two month process after former athletic director Damon Evans departed for Southern Methodist University.
Maryland athletics’ senior deputy athletic director and chief operating officer Colleen Sorem served as interim athletic director during the search, which was led by vice president for Legal Affairs and General Counsel Jay Rosselló and Arts and Humanities dean Stephanie Shonekan, in partnership with TurnKeyZRG.
[Damon Evans departs Maryland for SMU, Colleen Sorem named interim athletic director]
Before his time with the Braves, Smith served as president and CEO of the Ohio State Alumni Association from 2016 to 2020. He was previously an associate athletic director at Ohio State — where he earned his master’s degree — from 1995 to 2000.
He worked for the Atlanta Falcons from 2004 to 2013 as vice president and chief marketing officer.
Smith then served as executive vice president and chief marketing revenue officer for Arthur M. Blank Sports and Entertainment, which manages revenue and marketing for teams in Atlanta, Georgia, including the Falcons and Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United FC.
He also has MLS experience, having served as president and general manager of Columbus Crew SC from 2000 to 2004.
“As college athletics rapidly evolves, Jim brings valuable administrative and business experience, plus the energy, vision and passion to lead our athletics program to new levels of success and impact,” university president Darryll Pines wrote in the release.
Smith’s hiring comes at a pivotal stage for Maryland athletics, less than two months since basketball coach Kevin Willard left for Villanova after he critiqued Maryland’s Name, Image and Likeness use.
Maryland — like many programs — is also bracing for sweeping changes tied to NCAA revenue sharing and athlete compensation. The NCAA v. House settlement, which is set to take effect in the 2025-26 season, allows Division I schools to pay varsity athletes directly. Previous NIL rules let college athletes earn money, but not from the schools they attend.
Smith will likely be tasked with navigating those shifts while restoring stability and competitive success across the department.
